So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

The corrections officers were prepared for attacks by a person with raspberries and bananas but due to budget cuts, they did not get the instructions on how to defend yourself from a fiend with a plastic cup.

Leo Bloom's Freakout:So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

This.

Also, how much time will be added to his time now? I am sure he is real concerned about this.

lack of warmth:Leo Bloom's Freakout: So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

This.

Also, how much time will be added to his time now? I am sure he is real concerned about this.

Warden Vernon: You through?Christopher McCoy: Not even close bud!Warden Vernon: Good! You got one more life sentence right there!

Leo Bloom's Freakout:I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

Because it's the responsibility of the state to see that they serve their sentence, whatever that sentence is.This means medical care, food, clothing, housing, and making sure they don't injure or kill themselves or other inmates or staff.

Leo Bloom's Freakout:So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

Maybe I'm too draconian, but those in prison who commit violent acts against guards or other inmates should be given something like leg irons, something very uncomfortable and restraining. At least for those who have been given life without parole as how can you punish them at that point.

If I had gotten life without parole in my twenties, I would guess that in my early thirties would be about the time I would start realizing how truly horrible that sentence is.

If assisted suicide ever becomes legal, would those given life without parole or anyone given a lengthy prison sentence be allowed to end their life?

Leo Bloom's Freakout: So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

He's a criminal, why should he get what he wants?

I guess I've always had issue with prison as retribution. He's lost everything once he's in prison, I doubt he wants to kill himself, it's just the only option he sees left to avoid rotting. Since I don't see what society gains in his rotting versus his dying early at his hand/fellow inmates hand/contrived altercation with guards/etc., I don't see the purpose in getting these guards injured to stop it.

I see a life sentence as society stating "this one's beyond reform". So... what are we protecting, aside form the morals of the system in general that rewind2846pointed out. What he wants is so far beyond relevance at that point, that I just question the benefit/loss equation.

Leo Bloom's Freakout:So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

Spain has the right idea on this one.

No matter how long your sentence is, you aren't in for more than 40 years. It gives everyone hope of getting out.

Leo Bloom's Freakout:So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

I agree, give them the choice, a cell, or a pill.

At $33k a year, this dork is going to eat over a million dollars before he expires of natural causes.

DarkVader:Leo Bloom's Freakout: So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

Spain has the right idea on this one.

No matter how long your sentence is, you aren't in for more than 40 years. It gives everyone hope of getting out.

Great a bunch of geezer hoods on the street looking for someone to kill.

Befuddled:Maybe I'm too draconian, but those in prison who commit violent acts against guards or other inmates should be given something like leg irons, something very uncomfortable and restraining. At least for those who have been given life without parole as how can you punish them at that point.

If I had gotten life without parole in my twenties, I would guess that in my early thirties would be about the time I would start realizing how truly horrible that sentence is.

If assisted suicide ever becomes legal, would those given life without parole or anyone given a lengthy prison sentence be allowed to end their life?

I wouldn't agree with assisted suicide, but look-the-otherway suicide sounds fine to me.

These are heavy plastic mugs that can be shattered into sharp and jagged edges, not Solo cups. Think melamine dinnerware, not disposal picnic ware. Prisons use them because they are 100000x harder to break than glass, but it can be done if the cups are not collected after meals and someone puts some effort into it.

Leo Bloom's Freakout:So... what is the state's rationale for preventing someone who is serving life in prison form committing suicide? A slow, costly trudge in an already over-crowded system? I am not saying I want people in prison to do that, or that we should set it up to encourage that thinking. I am just wondering if someone is sentenced to "be in jail until you die", then why does it matter if that time comes sooner than later?

There are few reasons.

One being that someone who wants to commit suicide is by definition mentally ill. We, as a culture, don't allow people to commit suicide if we can prevent it. We also don't allow executing anyone who is less than healthy, both physically or mentally.

We also presume that someone who is mentally ill is not competent to decide about many things regarding their case or incarceration. We try to make sure that those who are convicted and sentenced are guilty of consent. We also try to insure that those convicted are still aware of their guilt before an execution takes place.

There is also the small, yet real, concern that an innocent person may have been convicted and sentenced, Allowing a person such as that to die, by their own hand or the hand of someone else, would be unethical at best.

When the state (us) decide that the criteria has been met to put someone to death, we are morally obligated to make sure that the convicted are executed in a way that is completely legal according to the laws in place in at that time and in that place.